KirkWhiteWrestling.COM

Kirk White

Wrestling Weight: 74 Kg  

2010 Team USA Ranking: Considering Competing Again (not a comeback, because I never retired).

2009 Team USA Ranking: Injured, DNC

2008 Team USA Ranking: Injured, DNC   2007 Team USA Ranking: Injured, DNC

2006 Team USA Ranking: Injured, DNC  2005 Team USA Ranking: 2nd

2004 Team USA Ranking: 4th     2003 Team USA Ranking: 3rd

Residence: Boise, ID            Club: Bronco Wrestling Club 

Born: August of 1976          Hometown: Tacoma, WA

Current Training Location: Boise State University in Boise, ID

High School Wrestling Team:  

The Curtis Vikings of University Place,  WA  (wreslted 141 in 92-93, 148 in 93-94, and 141 in 94-95)

College Wrestling Team: 

The Boise State Broncos of Boise, ID    (wrestled 158 in 1995-96, 96-97, and 97-98, 165 in 1998-99, and 99-00, and 157 in 00-01)

2002

Upon completing a 5 month residency at the Olympic Training Center, White returned in the spring of 2002 to Volunteer Assistant Wrestling Coach at Boise State University while completing his masters degree.  Boise State won the Pac-10 conference title, and Ben VomBaur placed fourth at the NCAA National Tournament to earn All-American honors.

2002-2003

Kirk White became an assistant coach at Pacific Lutheran University along with fellow assistant 3x NCAA All-American Reese Andy (Univ. of Wyoming) and head coach and NAIA National Finalist John Aiken.  After the program was dropped, many of PLU's wrestlers transferred to Southern Oregon College, including Joe Hathaway, Josh Rhoden, Matt Holt, Rich Vigorito, Rick Story, and Trique Meininger.  Rick Story & Matt Holt went on to become assistant wrestling coaches at Southern Oregon University, while Rich Vigorito became an assistant coach at Clackamas Community College.  Josh Rhoden became the head coach at Clackamas Community College.

Assistant Coach Kirk White - Coach White joined Highline for the 2003-04 season as an assistant coach, specializing in technical skills.  Coach White holds a career wrestling record of 130-26, and was a PAC-10 Champion. He was also an NCAA National Champion in his weight class, and earned NCAA All-American honors for three years.  White holds a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education/Physical Education from Boise State University, and a Master's degree in Athetic Administration from Idaho State University.  A special thanks to Vision Quest Sport & Fitness owner Brad Swartz, who payed White's coaching salary. 2004-05 Highline College & Vision Quest WC White coached the Highline College team during the preseason, assisting Scott Norton on the Highline College Wrestling Staff, until the high school season started.  White also is in his first full year as the Vision Quest Wrestling Club coach. http://www.highline.edu/stuserv/athletics/wrestling/wresthome.htm 2004-05 Fife High School Head Coach White began his first season as high school head coach on short notice.  Coach White was officially hired less than a week before the season started.  White had previously declined high school coaching positions because of his own competitive career.  However, this year White was injured at the Sunkist International Open Freestyle event in late October, 2004, so he decided to use his rehabilition time wisely to coach high school wrestling.  White coached four regional qualifiers, and three state qualifiers.  Of those, 2 wrestlers won Sub-Regional Championships (Kenny Baker, Jr. 125, and Nick Miller, Jr. 130).  At 3A Regionals (region III) White's wrestlers won 7 of their first 8 matches, qualifying 3 of the 4 for the finals (Baker, Miller, and Chris Sales, 135).  Nick Miller came away with the Regional Championship.  Baker & Miller also both placed 7th at the state tournament, winning three matches each.  Highlights of the year include Kevin Lind and Nick Miller winning multiple tournament titles, Baker winning his first ever tournament championship, and Miller defeating eventual 3A 130 lb State Champion Tarvin in the finals at the WF West tournament.  Lowlights include losing wrestlers for the season to injuries and lack of commitment, and realizing that HS kids don't know how to keep from acquiring skin infections (lack of personal hygiene) lol.
Kirk White Wrestling Assistant Coach Alma Mater: Boise State 2000 (208) 426-1889 eMail Kirk White Courtesy: Boise State Sports Information Release: 09/26/2006  One of the all-time greats in Boise State�s wrestling program, Kirk White is in his third year as an assistant coach for the Broncos.  The 1999 NCAA National Champion at 165 pounds, White earned a total of three All-American awards, and one league title while wrestling for Boise State.  Since completing his collegiate career in 2001, White has coached at many different levels, while continuing his competitive career in Freestyle wrestling at the national and international level.  As a sophomore in 1999, White burst on the collegiate scene when he became the first Bronco to win an NCAA National Championship (165 pounds) in wrestling.  He continued his collegiate success by earning two more NCAA All-America awards in 2000 and 2001 to become the only three-time NCAA Wrestling All-American in Boise State history.  White posted a four-year record of 130-26 for an 83.3 winning percentage.  Along with his coaching duties, White has continued to compete in Freestyle winning several medals at international tournaments in his weight class of 74 kilos (163 pounds).  During the 2006-07 season White captured the silver medal at the Sunkist International.  One week later White avenged his loss to Scott Owen at Sunkist handing him a 12-3 defeat to win the RealPro Wrestling West Regional.  He also won the Clansmen International Gold Medal.   Following surgery in February of 2007 to clean up an old knee injury, White came back four months later to compete in the World Team Trails.  He won his first match before losing to No. 1 ranked Joe Heskett in the next round.   In November of 2007, White was ranked ninth in the USA team rankings at 74kg (163 pounds).  Injuries kept White out of the 2006 rankings, but prior to that he was ranked third in 2003, fourth in 2004 and second in 2005.  At the 2003 World Cup hosted in Boise, White competed for World Team Select helping his team to the World Cup Silver Medal.  In both 2003 and 2004, White represented the United States in the Pan-American Championships, where he won the silver medal on both occasions.   He has earned prestigious USA National All-American Medals (top 8) in each of his five attempts (1999, 2002-05), including a 2nd place finish in his most recent campaign in 2005.  In 2003 and 2005, White was a Team USA National Team Member (top 3 at the US World Team Trials).  In the 2004 Olympic Team Trials he finished 4th overall.  White has also served as a resident athlete at the USA Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, been a student assistant at Boise State in 2001-02, an assistant coach at Pacific Lutheran University in 2002-03 and Highline Community College in 2003-04, and as the head coach at Fife High School in Tacoma, Wash., during the 2004-05 season.  White earned his bachelor�s degree in physical and secondary education from Boise State in May of 2000, and his master�s degree from Idaho State University in athletic administration in August of 2002.

Youth Wrestling History

 I participated in wrestling in 3 tournaments in the 1st grade, losing to John Taylor and Ben Celver. In the second grade, he wrestled in only 2 tournaments, and could rarely go to practice because of other sports such as soccer and softball. He did win the state championship, beating Lyle Cronk in the finals. His only moves, like lots of second graders, was a double leg and a sprawl.
After that, I quit wrestling in favor of other sports, namely tennis, runner's club, and basketball. The next time I attended any form of wrestling was in seventh grade. I did not know any moves. I relearned the double leg takedown, and learned a cradle. I was so much stronger and quicker than anyone I wrestled (thank you GOD, genetics, parents, and active lifestyle), that I went 10-0 with 8 pins in a very weak 8 team JHS schedule. The season was about 7 weeks long. I often skipped practice to attend tennis, basketball, or baseball practices instead.

I didn't step on a mat again until 8th grade 7 week season. Again, I went 10-0 with 8 pins. Two of those were forfeit wins. I always chose both up, never got on bottom, nor did I know any moves from bottom or top. A typical match was a double leg into a lift, lock up a cradle in the air, and set the opponent down for the win. No technique, no moves, no interest in wrestling. I just liked other sports that my brother played better. Nobody in my family ever wrestled, and my dad and mom didn't particularly like the idea of me wrestling, so he was steered away from it to "safer" sports.
After the 8th grade 7 week season, I quit wrestling. I never attended another practice (including 9th grade wrestling) until coach Joe Reasons got the head job at Curtis HS in 1992. Reasons talked me into wrestling again for a two week trial period. I really wanted to play basketball instead (I still play almost everyday to this day for cross-training), but was frustrated that coaches knew I was done growing and only 5'6" tall. So I was faced with a choice of battling the height issue in a sport where I would never get to play in college, or switch to a sport where height and size didn't matter. I also entertained ideas of just focussing on baseball, but again the height issues for playing at the next level loomed.

So I started wrestling again in 10th grade, and couldn't even remember which lead leg I was or how I used to stand. I quickly dismissed the standing cradle, realizing that wouldn't work on HS kids. So when I started wrestling in 10th grade, I had about 14 weeks of JHS experience, and about 10 weeks of youth freestyle, of which I remembered nothing.
     Most people that ask me expect that I had an extensive youth wrestling career.  Well, if that is categorized as an extensive youth wrestling career, ok. But having never attended a camp, clinic, lesson, open workout session, and often missing the practices in the years I participated, and because of the large gaps between my mat experiences, I would say it is safe to say I started real wrestling in 10th grade. Remember, I did not qualify for state my sophomore year. My junior year, after going to summer camps and working out at Toro club, I went 27-3, but 2-2 at the state tournament (A guy named Crazy Joe Evens beat me in the quarters, and Ty Smith's OHS teammate JT Pidduck put me out of the placings in the tournament).

     But I wrestled freestyle that summer, instead of playing Baseball for Triple Play Baseball Club of Seattle (a travelling elite team that often played 60 plus games a summer), taking 3rd at state, getting pinned by Josh Morton of Mead HS (a future 1999 NAIA national champion, who I later teched at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas tournament in Dec, 1999, 24-9).    I wrestled at Junior Nationals, going 2-2 in FS, and 4-2 in Greco. I continued to practice wrestling everyday, even during football his senior year.  Bob Blessing, Dan Staab, JT Petty, Don Hansen and Randy Staab all coached me often at the Toro Club.  My Toro workout partners included Otto Olson, Satori Snow, Daniel Staab Jr., Cash Edwards, Bart Dickson, Tom Tovar, Per Lars Bloomgren, Travis Morgan, Abel Pulver, and Ryan MacMichael.  

     I lost two matches his senior year, one to Travis Morgan, 15-5, who placed 2nd that year.  He had two 5 point reversals and a 4 point hip toss, and I had only two takedowns and an escape.  I also lost to Ty Smith of Olympic HS in the regional finals, 6-2 (5 point takedown by Smith, rideout, then Smith choses down, escapes, 6-0, 3rd round I chose both up, score a single leg takedown late in the period, then ride him out.) I then watched the tape of my takedown about 1000 times that week, including two trips over to Bob Blessing's house.  Bobby broke down why the move worked, and when to hit it again.  I drilled only that single leg takedown all week long, hitting the move over 2000 times in HS and Toro club practice. I then proceeded to Tech the Tri State champ and returning state finalist Scott Garicia from UHigh with that same single leg, 23-8.  I then hit it 4 times on Aaron Tom of Battleground HS in the quarters, winning 8-2.  In the semis I beat a kid with the last name of Greene, who was a FS CA state champ who just moved to WA, 13-6.  I hit six takedowns on Greene, mostly singles.  I then went on to hit that same single 4 times in the first period on Ty Smith, scoring two takedowns, a penalty point for an illegal head figure 4, and in deep and almost finishing another single leg as time ran out.  In the second period, I chose neutral, and there was no score, but a brutal head clash on a HiC scramble provided a long intermission.  In the third period, losing 5-1, Smith chose top, hoping for his arm bar pin.  I escaped, 6-1.  Then the illegal punch made it 7-1.  The second illegal punch made it 8-1, match over, disqualification.

So somewhere during my senior year, I made the transition from no techique, other sports first, to all techinque, earn a college scholarship. Thats the REAL, UNDISPUTED youth wrestling history of Kirk White

Personal Story

I moved to Boise, ID where I was hired as the assistant wrestling coach at Boise State University in October 31st, 2005.   As of April 18th I resigned from my position as athletic administrator & Head Wrestling Coach for Vision Quest Sport & Fitness.  I continue to serve as a guest clinician at various camps along the west coast.  Because the Dave Schultz Wrestling Club is disbanding after ten years, I have recently switched wrestling clubs.  I now compete for the Bronco Wrestling Club on the International Level in Freestyle and RealPro Wrestling.  My training partners include the Boise State Wrestling team & coaches.  I tore my knee while wrestling in the 2005 finals of the World Team Trials.  I've since had two surgeries.  There is a possibility that I will make a comeback to freestyle wrestling in 2007, 2008, or both.  But I'm not sure how my body will respond. 

Education

High school: Diploma cum laude from Curtis HS in University Place, WA  (3.72 GPA)

University / College: Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology/Physical Education cum laude from Boise State University in Boise, ID (3.54 GPA)

Graduate School:  Master's Degree in Physical Education / Athletic Administration magna cum laude from Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID (3.9 GPA) 

Philosophy

     I believe in efficiency.  In order to be most effective, we must edit our traditional practice routines and eliminate non-wrestling specific time in our practices.   I propose a theme or concept approach to wrestling.  In participating in the Div. I NCAA level and wrestling at the OTC, and then coaching Div. III and now NJCAA and coaching HS kids around the state, I believe that the biggest mistakes we as coaches make when technically instructing wrestling is that we show too many moves, in too many varying positions.  At my level, I work on one position, maybe two, over a 3-4 month period.  And I learn wrestling incredibly fast.  There is no way that HS students can learn at my rate.  So how do we cover all the positions in wrestling with these HS kids?  Well, we can't.  But there is a way to come close.  Its the conceptual approach to teaching wrestling technique.

      The conceptual approach is something no other wrestling coach in the state, maybe even the nation, has ever centered their wrestling curriculum around.  Moves are not taught in the conceptual approach.  Instead, universal movement concepts, balance, position,  and skill themes are used to teach the wrestling technique.  I first learned of this technique from Professor Ken Bell at Boise State University.  He used it in the scope of teaching elementary and secondary physical education classes.  He is one of the leaders in his field.  But I think maybe it even works better in teaching wrestling. 

     The basic idea is the in traditional teaching, students have little context for learning.  Even our advanced wrestlers learn our most basic techniques at too slow of a rate.  This lack of wrestling context makes it near impossible for new wrestlers to master any one single technique in any reasonable timeframe.  When a conceptual model is used in conjunction with a guided discover model (Dr. Bell's specialty), the context becomes clear to the wrestlers, and time is not wasted showing moves that the students aren't ready to comprehend. 

     The genius of this model is not how specific moves are taught, but rather in what order they are taught, and under what central (and fully transferable) theme they are taught.  Generally in HS wrestling, between 5-10 moves or holds are shown per day, and another 3-4 variations per move.  This can easily become sensory overload.  No wonder HS wrestlers can't ever remember a move you explained perfectly 3 days before.  

     Dr. Bell specified many times in class that the more unskilled the class, the more analytically it must be organized.  Unskilled wrestlers can't even move about safely on the wrestling mat, much less wrestle safely while performing a simple move like the double leg.  Unskilled, 1st year wrestlers never get the double leg right.  

     On the other hand, skilled wrestlers also will learn techniques much quicker.  I've already tested this conceptual approach with guided discovery on top level high school wrestlers in summer camp and during the fall freestyle workouts.  They begin to realize that certain skills and motions are used in multiple wrestling positions.  Its not an actual move that they need to know in a given situation, its a skill that was quite possibly learned in an entirely different position.  

     A "skill theme" is a broad label that encompasses many different, more specific skills.  A skill theme tells what type of action you are performing.  Travelling is an example of a skill theme that encompasses more specific skills such as circling, squaring, hopping, and knee walking.  A skill theme is always a verb.  In a quality beginners wrestling practice, one should have no trouple deciphering which skill theme is being taught.

    A universal movement concept is a law which all things in human movement revolve around.  For example, center of gravity and support base is a lesson I often teach instead of the traditional stance lesson.  When we teach stance, the students are learning only from expert opinion.  Problem is, I've changed my stance multiple times.  So during one of my stance lessons, I must have taught wrong, according to how I stand now.

    To remedy this problem, I teach the laws of motion that govern my stance, and pros/cons of each stance (wide vs. narrow, staggered vs. square).  I then run a guided discovery practice that allows each wrestler to discover for himself which way they want to stand, and more importantly, WHY?

    Wrestlers seldom forget what they learned in a guided discovery lesson using universal concepts that govern human motion in wrestling.  High school wrestlers that I have taught have become great scramblers as a result of using this technique.  The guided discovery teaching method will bring about a different look when wrestlers ride, escape from the bottom, and in their motion on their feet.  Their motion will become fluid.

    Very few coaches use this teaching technique, because it is relatively new age from a pedagogy standpoint.  Soon someone reading this will have the first wrestling room in the nation to use this organization in their teaching of wrestling techniques.  Eventually, every coach will wish they knew this teaching technique.  I've explained as much as possible in a written format.  The rest must be done verbally, and even physically.  

    My eventual goal is to get a whole wrestling curriculum done, I plan to write a book and come out with a video tape on training and practice philosophy.  But that is down the road.  But while I'm spending so much time writing wrestling curriculums, I am still finding time to train myself.

Freestyle Wrestling International Competition:       1997 Clansmen International Silver Medalist...1998 Clansmen International Bronze Medalist...2000 Clansmen International Silver Medallist...2001 Clansmen International Gold Medalist...2002 Clansmen International Gold Medalist...2003 Clansmen International Silver Medallist...2002 Henri Deglane Challenge Gold Medalist...2003 Pan-American Championships Silver Medalist...2004 Pan-American Championships Silver Medalist... 2003 World Cup Team Silver Medalist (World Team Select)....2003 World Cup, 4th Place...2000 Sunkist International Silver Medallist... 2002 Sunkist International Bronze Medallist...2001 Dave Schultz Memorial International 4th Place...2004 Dave Schultz International Bronze Medallist

Freestyle Wrestling Domestic United States Competition

Summary:  5x United States Senior Nationals All-American, US Freestyle National Team Member     

2005 US Nationals Silver Medallist....2005 Washington Open State Champion.....2004 Olympic Team Trials 4th Place Finisher...2004 US Nationals 7th Place.....2004 Northwest Regionals/Olympic Trials Qualifier Gold Medallist....2003 United States National Team Member...2003 USA World Team Trials Bronze Medalist....2003 US Nationals 6th Place....2002 USA World Team Trials 5th Place Finisher....2002 US Nationals 4th Place....1999 US Nationals 8th Place...1997 & 1998 University Nationals Silver Medallist...1996 FILA Junior (Espoir) All-American (4th Place)

Post-NCAA Folkstyle / Collegiate Wrestling Competition:

2003 Southern Oregon Open Champion, 2004 CCC Champion

NCAA Div. I College Wrestling Competition for Boise State University:

1999 NCAA Champion for Boise State University…3x NCAA All American ….Pacific-10 Conference Champion……2X 1st Team NCAA Academic All-American.....NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship Award Winner......Big West Athlete-of-the-Year, 1999......115-20 Overall career college record......Freshman of the Year, 1997.....2X NWCA All-Star Dual participant.....

High School Athletic Competition for Curtis High School, University Place, WA:    1995 Washington 3A State Champion.....2005 Inducted into the Curtis High School Athletic Hall of Fame....1993-95 79 wins, 13 losses Career Record......1994 & 1995 Sub-Regional Champion....1994 State Tournament, 7th place....1994 & 1995 1st Team All-League Center-Fielder SPSL....9X Varsity Letter Winner (3 in Football, 3 in Wrestling, 3 in Baseball)...

Boise State "BroncoSports" Web Page:

 http://www.broncosports.com/index2.asp  

2000-2001

White received his third straight NCAA All-American award when he placed sixth at the national collegiate tournament in Carver Hawkeye Arena in Iowa.  His overall record was 29-6.  He entered the NCAA tournment with only 3 losses.  One came in a 6-5 shootout with Bryan Snyder of Nebraska, where White scored the go ahead takedown, to win 7-6 with 2 seconds remaining, but after a long review, the takedown was overturned and the championship of the Las Vegas Invitational was awarded to Snyder.  His other two losses came to Oregon State All-American Eric Jorgenson, in the dual meet and then later the Pac-10 Finals.  White had defeated Jorgenson in the semifinals of the Las Vegas Invitational.  In the second round of the NCAA tournament, Oklahoma State freshman Shane Roller pulled off a huge upset of White.  Tied 2-2, Roller secured his first takedown of the match on White in overtime, a snatch low single, for the victory.  White won many difficult matches in the wrestlebacks, including wins over Scott Owen of Northern Illinois, Eugene Harris of Oregon, Rocky Smart of Arizona State, Yoski Nakamura of Pennsylvania, before dropping a 1-1 double overtime (coin flip) match to Shane Roller of Oklahoma State in their second meeting of the tournament.  Roller ended up third.  White lost his 6th match of the year, and third of the tournament, to Eric Jorgenson for 5th place.  The score was 1-1 in overtime, where a very questionable call ended the match and gave Jorgenson the victory.

Freestyle:  

Pre-Season: Won the Silver Medal in the Clansmen International.  Lost to Hungarian/Canadian immigrant Zoltan Hunyady in the finals of the 69 kilo division after defeating Neal Ewers 3-2 in the semifinals.

Post-Season:  Placed 4th at the Dave Schultz International in May in his first post-college tournament, including wins over Mark Smith of Oklahoma State University (brother of legendary John Smith), and 1999 NCAA Champion Glenn Pritzlaff.  Lost twice to Turkey National Team Member Gokhan Yavaser, and once to Inal Dzagourov of Russia.

Injuries:  Had surgery on right knee following the Schultz Int'l.

1999-2000

White received his second straight NCAA All-American award when he placed fifth at the national collegiate tournament in St. Louis.  White was the defending national champion at 165 pounds entering the NCAA national championships tournament following a regular season which could be best described as injury plagued.  After wrestling 39 matches in 1998-99 and losing only one, White's total matches last year was reduced by over 25 percent.  At the NCAA tournament, White advanced to the quarterfinals before being knocked down to the wrestlebacks with a 5-4 loss to Chris Martin of virginia Tech.  White, who had to wrestle in the three-day tournament wearing a mask to protect a broken nose, fought his way back to a fifth place finish.  He broke his nose on March 2 playing a pickup game of flag football during a Bronco wrestling team practice.  He had surgery on his nose on March 6 prior to the NCAA Championships, and another surgery after the NCAA tournament.  He finished the 1999-00 season with an overall record of 20-8.  After starting the season winning the Cowboy Open, White separated his ribs and missed two weeks of practice and one tournament.  He returned for the Las Vegas Invitational in early December, only to separate his AC joint in his left shoulder.  Due to injury and eventually surgery, which removed part of his clavicle bone, White missed the next month of practice and competition.  His first action following the shoulder injury was at the Lone Star Duals, only 8 days after open surgery, where he lost to eventual NCAA Champion Donny Pritzlaff of Wisconsin, 3-1 in overtime, and eventual national runner-up Joe Heskett of Iowa State, 6-1.  Just when White thought he was on his way back to full health, he suffered a medial miniscus tear in the cartilage of his right knee (eventual surgery in June of 2001) and had to miss another week of practice and one more dual match.  His only two losses between the Lone Start Duals and the NCAA Tournament, were both to the late Steven Blackford of Arizona State - 13-2 at the NWCA All-Star Dual (a match in which he pulled his left hamstring early in the match, but kept wrestling) and 3-2 in the finals of the Pac-10 Championships.

1998-1999

Penciled himself into Bronco athletic history by winning the 165-pound national championship.  In doing so, White became just Boise State's fourth individual all-time to win a national title, joining skier Bill Shaw, and track & field athletes Jake Jacoby and Eugene Greene.  White's dominating path to the national championship started with 25 straight wins to open the season, and ended with 13 consecutive victories and a 3-1 win over Rodney Jones of Oklahoma in the national championship match televised by ESPN.  Along the way, White compiled a 38-1 record, putting together one of the greatest individual seasons in school history.  His lone loss came at the hands of Joe Heskett of Iowa State at the prestigious National Wrestling Coaches All-Star Dual in early-February.  In addition to winning the NCAA Championship, White also picked up first place finishes at the Pac-10 Championships, the Las Vegas Collegiate Invitational, the Southern Oregon Open in Ashland, OR, the Cowboy Open in Laramie, WY, and the Lassen Open in Susanville, CA.  White also went unbeaten at both the Reno Duals in late-December and the Virginia Duals in early-January.  Perhaps the most impressive part of White's season was the fact that he was only taken down by an opponent four times all season.  Offensively, White scored 10 or more points in nine different matches during the season.

In May of 1999, White placed eighth at 167 pounds at the U.S. Senior National Championships in Las Vegas, the only returning collegiate wrestler to place at the national championships.  In June, White was one of nine collegiate wrestlers selected to participate in the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-American Tour, wrestling against national members from the countries of France and Poland in dual matches.

1997-1998

Made an immediate impact on the Bronco wrestling program as a freshman.  Led the Bronco team with 27 wins and a 27-6 overall record, en route to qulifying for the NCAA Championships at 158 pounds.  Went 3-1 at the Pac-10 Championships, wrestling back through the consolation bracket to place third in the conference, an received an automatic bid to the NCAA Div. I Nationals.  At the NCAA's, White lost his first match to #1 ranked Temeor Terry of Nebraska.  With White ahead 3-1 with 30 seconds left, and 4-3 with 10 seconds left, he was caught in a knee pick takedown to lose, 7-4.  He then won two matches in the wrestlebacks before losing a wild 11-8 match to Greg Degrand of Michigan State.  Put together win streaks of nine and seven during the course of the year, while competing in all 10 of Boise State's dual matches and three of the team's in-season tournaments.  Won the 158 pound class of the Pacific Open in late November, while placing third at the prestigious Las Vegas Invitational in December and finishing fourth at the Southern Oregon Open to start the season.  In Boise State's dual matches, White went 9-1.

In freestyle wrestling, White earned a Bronze Medal in the Clansmen International at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, BC, losing his only match to Canadian National team Member Nick Ugoalah, who also won the Canadien Nationals.  Earned a Silver Medal at the 1998 University Nationals, losing to NCAA Champion Chris Bono in the Finals.

1996-1997

Missed the entire college season with a wrist injury.  Upon returning from an outstanding preseason performance in freestyle wrestling, White broke his navicular (scaffoid) bone while defending a double overhook throw by teammate Andy Leathers.  The injury required seven months in a cast/splint and bone growth stimulator technology.

Pre-Season Freestyle

Sunkist International: Beat top freestyler Frank Trigg before losing to NCAA Champ Marcus Mollica, and Oregon legend Mat Sprague.

Clansmen International:  Earned a Silver Medal by beating many top Canadians, including Rob Betts by a score of 9-1 in the semifinals, before losing to Ukraine National Team Member, European Championships Gold Medallist Oleg Boyko, who also placed 10th at the World Championships in freestyle wrestling.  Boyko retired from compeition after the 2003 World Cup in Boise, ID, and now lives in Federal Way, WA and is an assistant coach at Vision Quest Sport & Fitness.

 Post-Season Freestyle

White earned a Silver Medal at the United States University Nationals, losing only to 1996 NCAA Champion Chris Bono.

1995-1996

Medical Redshirted during his first year with the Bronco Program due to a thumb injury.  Tore his ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb, also known as gamekeeper's thumb.  Had surgery to repair the ligament and a pin put in his thumb.

Post-Season Freestyle

Placed 4th in the national at the Espoir (now called Fila Junior) National Championships for competitors aged up to 20 years.  It marked the first time in White's career that he had earned All-American honors, at any tournament.

1993-1995

High School -- White won the 3A state of Washington championship his senior season.  Most Washingtonians remember him best for his 7-1upset win in the state finals over 2x defending state champion and undefeated Ty Smith of Olympic high school.  His three-year record was 79-13 for an 85.7 winning percentage.  Broken down by year his marks were 33-2 as a senior (94%), 27-3 as a junior (90%), and 19-8 as a sophomore (70%).  White earned three varsity letters each in wrestling, football, and baseball where he was an all-league center fielder in the spring of 1994-1995.  His wrestling coach at Curtis High School was Joe Reasons, assisted by Doug Cowan.  A member of the National Honor Society, White graduated with a 3.72 GPA.